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Narrative Theory

By Asa Tarrant

Introduction
In this piece of work I will be discussing
the theorys of 3 different theorists,
they are Strauss, Propp and Todorov. I
will include the terms linear and nonlinear and the different types of
endings.

Todorov
Todorov theory states that most linear films follows a sequential order of
Equilibrium, non-equilibrium and a restored equilibrium. In other words, at the
beginning, the actors lives are normal then something bad tends to happen
which changes the storyline of the music video. Then there is the realization that
there is a problem, then order is restored then finally the equilibrium is returned.

This is the equilibrium part of the


song, as Drake is sharing his love for
this girl and it seems like he is going
to ask her out.

Then this is the non-equilibrium part of the


song as the girl that Drake liked is now with
another man who is quite horrible and
doesnt deserve her.

Todorov
Then lastly, this is the equilibrium
restored as Drake is now with the
girl that he wanted at the
beginning of the song, it is now a
happy ending

Propp
Propps theory suggests that there are 5
different characters within a music video
they are:
The villain they normally cause disequilibrium
The donor they generally give something to the
hero to help them complete the mission.
The helper they are almost like the sidekick and
the help the hero complete their mission.
The princess they are normally the reward for
the hero.
The father the character gives the hero the
task.

Propp
The next theorist that Im going to talk about is Propp, he
believes that there are characters put into narrative with clear
roles.
In this music video,
Drake is the hero as he
is on a quest to get this
girl to like him.

This girl is the prize in


this music video as
there are two different
men that are after her,
she then has to make a
decision about who she
wants to go with.

This man is the


helper, he gives
Drake advice on
what he should do
and try and help
him make a
decision.
Finally this man here is
the villain as he
interrupts Drake and his
quest to get the girl he
wants.

Barthes
Barthes is a French theorist which has a theory that there
are 5 different semiotic codes is most music videos.
The first code that I am going to talk
about is the enigma code, this is an
element which is not explained at the
beginning of the video so it builds
tension for the viewer. In the music
video Hero by Enrique Iglesias, the
first thing that happens is the enigma
code, when the car is driving away.
The next code that I am going to be talking
about is the action code, this is an action
within a music video which builds tension,
in this music video its when the group of
men are travelling to where Enrique and
his girlfriend are.

Barthes
The next code is the semantic code, this is
when a part of the music video connotes
the narrative in an unspoken way. In this
music video its when Enrique hits the other
man, this is to show his love for the girl and
doesnt want her to get taken away.
This is a symbolic code, this is when
opposites are used to drive the plot. In this
scene its when there are all of the older
men against the young man and young
woman this is to show that they are more
dominant than the younger generation.
The last code that Im going to talk about is
the cultural code, this is where the film is set
and in this music video, it is set in the
desert, this is to show that they want to get
away from everything and escape their
everyday lives.

Levi-Strauss
Levi-Strauss theory suggests that within a music video,
opposites are used to build narrative. Some examples of
opposites are young and old/ good and evil/ man and woman.

In the music video Find


Your Love by Drake,
opposites are used on a
number of occasions for
example in this picture
shown there is an older man
giving Drake (a younger
man) advice. This is to show
that the older man may
have already one through
what Drake is going
through.

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